Refrigerator Filters

Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all for refrigerator filters. As you can imagine, there are many different models of fridges and with that variety comes a large assortment of fridge filters as well. The good news is that finding the right filter for your fridge is generally pretty straightforward.

Most fridges will come with a manual stating the replacement components you may need. Another option would be to locate the sticker attached inside the fridge, it will list the fridge model which can be searched to find your filter. If these methods fail, you can also always try shopping by features using a Fridge Filter Finder.

Yes, refrigerator water filters are recyclable, but not through standard curbside recycling. Some refrigerator brands offer filter recycling programs however it is not common for most recycling facilities to handle/ process old refrigerator filters. Do not throw used filters in the regular recycling bin.

The contaminants a filter reduces can depend on the type and brand of the filter. The most commonly reduced contaminants from fridge filters are chlorine taste and odor, sediment, and rust. Some filters can reduce heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and copper. Look for NSF 53 certification to identify which filters can remove heavy metals. A few premium filters, with NSF 401 certification, can reduce pharmaceuticals and emerging contaminants.

The average lifespan of a refrigerator filter is about 6 months or 300-500 gallons. The life of your fridge filter will be impacted by the usage and quality of the water you are filtering. High/heavy usage means the filter will clog faster than otherwise. Incoming water with high chlorine, sediment, or hard water will also reduce the lifespan of your filter.

Replace your filter if you start to notice bad taste or odor, cloudiness or discoloration, or a noticeable slowdown in the flow of water dispensed from your fridge. These are all signs it is time to replace your filter.

We recommend checking with the fridge filter manufacturer to confirm whether your existing product was made in the US. DiscountFilterStore does feature a page for US-made fridge filters including brands such as USWF. If you are interested in reading more about US-made products check out our article, “Why Buy American Made Filters?”.

The answer to this heavily depends on your water concerns, and what you would define as enough. Fridge filters can reduce a good amount of contaminants such as chlorine taste and odor, sediment, rust, lead, mercury, VOCs, cysts, pharmaceuticals, and more but may fall short if you need to treat for things like hard water or bacteria and viruses.

Fridge filters are specifically point-of-use filters, meaning they won't treat water running throughout your home and to your appliances. If you are looking for a more complete whole-home solution, check out our options for replacement whole-house filters, systems, and UV disinfection.